Technology Transition 22 April 09 Wendell Banks Director, Plans and Programs Air Force Research Laboratory
Air Force Materiel Command
Ten Technical Directorates Directed Energy AFOSR Space Vehicles Sensors Human Effectiveness Munitions Information Materials Air Vehicles Propulsion
Major AFRL Sites EDWARDS ROCKET PROPULSION (RZ) WRIGHT-PATTERSON PROPULSION (RZ) AIR VEHICLES (RB) SENSORS (RY) MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING (RX) COLLABORATIVE C2 (RI) 711 th HUMAN PERFORMANCE WING (HPW) HUMAN EFFECTIVENESS (RH) ROME INFORMATION (RI) SURVEILLANCE (RY) HANSCOM BATTLE SPACE ENVIRONMENTS (RV) ELECTROMAGNETICS (RY) MESA WARFIGHTER TRAINING RESEARCH (RH) KIRTLAND DIRECTED ENERGY (RD) SPACE VEHICLES (RV) AFRL HQ BROOKS 711 th HPW - BIOEFFECTS (RH) - AEROSPACE PHYSIOLOGY (RH) -USAFSAM EGLIN MUNITIONS (RW) BALLSTON AIR FORCE OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (AFOSR) TYNDALL AIR BASE TECHNOLOGY (RX) 40 Sites World-Wide
AFRL Workforce Employees Civilian Military Contractor Total ~10800 ~4750 ~1450 ~4600 S&Es ~ 6750 ~2800 ~ 850 ~3100 Civilian S&E Education 29% 43% 28% B.S M.S PhD # people 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Education Level by Grade DR level 1 2 3 4 PhD M.S B.S Mil / Civ Distribution 76% 7% 17%
AF Budget Investment By Budget Activity 6.3 $662M 32% 6.1 $290M 14% 6.2 $1,122M 54% 6.1 Basic Research Funds 6.2 Applied Research Funds 6.3 Advanced Technology Development Funds FY08 S&T Appropriation FY08 Core TOA TOTAL: $2.075 Billion TOTAL: $1.722 Billion
AFRL FY08 Funding Space Vehicles $231M (11%) Information $155M (7%) Materials & Mfg $236M (11%) S&T Directed Energy $175M (8%) Human Eff $129M (6%) Munitions $78M (4%) Propulsion $362M (18%) Basic Research $290M (14%) Air Vehicles $208M (10%) S&T Total: $2.075B (PB plus Cong Adds) Sensors $212M (10%) Directed Energy $361M (9%) Human Eff $246M (6%) Munitions $172M (4%) Space Vehicles $397M (10%) Information $675M (16%) Total Materials & Mfg $542M (13%) Propulsion $473M (11%) Basic Research $453M (11%) Total: $4.170B Sensors $624M (15%) Air Vehicles $227M (5%) 7
Tech Transition is a Process and the event doesn t happen until the end. Technology transition is a process where technology is developed in strong collaboration with system managers and users of end products* with the intent to insert the matured technology into that end product The process is complete when the technology is operational (TRL 9) and supportable. Only then has the technology transitioned. AFRL Controlled User or Sys Mgr Controlled TRL 1 Basic Principles Observed TRL 2 Concept Formulation TRL 3 Proof of Concept TRL 4 Breadbrd in Lab TRL 5 Breadbrd in Rep Environmt TRL 6 Prototype in Rep Environmt TRL 7 Prototype in Ops Environmt TRL 8 System Qual TRL 9 Mission Proven *Weapon systems, manufacturing processes, analysis tools, and other systems intended to support the warfighter 8
Processes & Programs to Facilitate Technology Transition The ATC Triangle Overcoming the Valley of Death 6.1 Basic Research S&T 6.2 Applied Research Tech Base Managed by AFRL RDT&E 6.3 Adv Tech Dev 6.4/6.5 System Development & Demonstration Managed by System Program Offices Applied Technology Council AFRL Identify ATD Candidates POM for S&T Programs Develop Transitionable Technologies Product Ctr Interpret Requirements Build Transition Program Integrate Into Systems User Define Requirements POM Transition Funds Means for Tech Transition Advanced Means for Tech Transition Technology Demo (ATD) Advanced Advanced Technology Demo Concept Tech Demo (ACTD) (ATD) Technology Technology Planning IPT Planning IPT Battle ACTD Lab Experiments Technical Battle Lab Experiments Events (JEFX) SPD Technical Events (EFX) Initiative Industry SPD Initiative Initiative Senior Industry Initiative Leader Initiative Tech Transition Chasm Emphasis is Necessary on Technology Transition Sustained Senior Leader Emphasis Continuous Communication Integrated Process Budget For Production Incorporation AFRL To User through Acquirer Direct to the User BATCAM End User WIDE 9
Transition Myths and Realities M: AFRL is responsible for technology transition R: System managers typically determine what transitions to use on their system M: Technology maturation and transition can be worked independently R: Must be worked together M: Transition planning starts after TRL 6 R: Must start as early as TRL 3 or 4 M: Technology doesn t have to be operational (TRL 9) to be transitioned R: If it s not operational, no benefit to the user M: ATDs and ATCs are the primary way of transitioning R: Most technology is transitioned through other means 10
D&SWS Sub-Processes Sub-Process Owners, Co-Leads, Design Team Leads Process Owner/Co-Lead Chief Process Officer / Deputy Gen Donald Hoffman / Lt Gen Mark Shackelford / Lt Gen Loren Reno Maj Gen Marshall Sabol / Col John Griggs 20090301 11
Three D&SWS Technology Development Initiatives 3 Initiatives with the goal of institutionalizing one AF level process to manage investments in technologies to ensure they are mature for AF systems TD 1-12 Improved Tech Maturity Assessments Comprehensive Qualitative Criteria Tech Performance Manufacturability Integrability Other ilities Better Assessment of Risk Improved Tech Forecasting TD 1-14 Identify & Prioritize Tech Needs Enterprise process to gather & prioritize tech needs Focus S&T on highest priority needs Game-changing Tech Push influencing capability planning TD 1-13 High Confidence Tech Transitions Early & complete lifecycle transition planning IPT Approach maximize coordination Stage/gated transition of technology Clearly defined entrance/exit Criteria 12 12
Summary Tech Transition is process and a team sport -- Ends when Technology is being used Successful Transition starts by working on what the customer needs and can afford Tech Maturation and Transition must be worked simultaneously by the same team Earlier is better More complete measures of Tech Maturity required TRLs necessary but not sufficient (cost, MRL, ilities, etc) D&SWS Tech Development Team and AFRL working this hard SAF/AQR, AFMC/A2/5, AFRL, and many others 13